Military Service?

[CJ6]

I think this may have changed if you register within a few years of your discharge, but I could be wrong.

I know that WWII, Korean war, and Vietnam vets who did not register before 2003 were denied eligibility without a service connection or means testing.

79 was my discharge.

 

[goodbadugly]

Ask him to tell u his serial number. Should be able to spit it out without hesitation. What was his MOS. How many months/days/hrs was he in country. Did he see any "white mice". Where did he take basic/AIT?
B Co 1/5 Cav '66/'67 Firebase 16. Ngok Kamlert. 11 B

 

[K22]

A DD214 discharge form would answer any question you have.

If he doesn't have one, he never served.

This is correct and it will show the type of discharge, rank, service metals earned, etc.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Need a little help here in trying to determine someone's military service background. Here is a bit of the backstory and a full disclosure statement of myself. I have no personal military service. Lot's of my family have served but I have not, so I'm ignorant in some things military. In my circle there is a new guy making his way in, and he is saying some things about his military service that from my perspective just don't jive. In fact the red flag has gone up with me in regards to stolen valor. Is there a website I can go to that will help verify his service in the military, so I can put some of this to rest? Not trying to get into his personal life, I just feel compelled to have the basic question answered of did he really serve or is he blowing smoke?

What are the things about his service that don't "jive" from your perspective? I'm sure we can verify just about anything he says.

I'm a Navy vet and have very close buddies who were Marines, Army, and Navy SEALS so I've pretty much heard it all at some point. I know an Air Force guy but that's not really military...LOL!

Other than talking to someone who served with him, seeing photos of his service, or a DD214, it's hard to tell if he's BSing or not if you haven't served yourself. Some guys I've ran into that fit the bill of what you are describing did actually serve, but only for a very short time before receiving a General or Dishonorable discharge. They always seem to have a chip on their shoulders because they F'd up and got kicked out for whatever reason so they always want to talk it up like they served full tours Honorably. Especially easy to tell with the guys lying about being combat veterans.

 

[K22]

It was heavily emphasized upon my discharge that the DD214 was something that was extremely important and to carefully guard it.
I would be highly suspicious of someone making claims that sounded dubious and couldn't produce some form of military ID.

People have no problem lying for their own benefit. You can't make family members listen but you can choose to stay away anytime a liar is present.

I was also told upon my discharge from the Army that the DD214 is the defining document to prove military service, not ID cards, or the Certificate of Discharges which we received.

The reason is that the DD214 contains all the relevant details of one's service and is considered the official service record. I was told this by numerous government sources.

 

[M-61]

This is correct and it will show the type of discharge, rank, service metals earned, etc.

Along with all overseas service and dates.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I was also told upon my discharge from the Army that the DD214 is the defining document to prove military service, not ID cards, or the Certificate of Discharges which we received.

The reason is that the DD214 contains all the relevant details of one's service and is considered the official service record. I was told this by numerous government sources.

Yeah and the official copy has your social security number on its so not a document you want to let go flying around for no good reason.

Original and multiple copies with social security number and with SSN removed are in the safe. Original copies never go out to anything other than serious applications or verification for things like VA home loans and whatnot. Any stores offering veteran discounts or other similar things requiring verification don't get a copy with my social.

Your DD214 is also verification for certain VA benefits because only veterans with specific medals, ribbons, or certain service dates are eligible for some of the benefits. So it's more than just proof of service alone. Veterans with a DD214 showing things like National Defense medals, Combat Service medals, or Purple Hearts get a few extra services and benefits from the VA

 

[Chaotik]

79 was my discharge.

My discharge was 81.
I started working at a VA hospital in 2003 until I retired in 2017. I tried to enroll as a patient to get care at the VA where I was employed but was denied eligibility because I did not have a service connected issue and my income was over the limit for means testing.

I appealed and eventually I was evaluated and found to have a service connected issue and thus obtained eligibility to receive care at my VA where I was employed.

 

[K22]

Yeah and the official copy has your social security number on its so not a document you want to let go flying around for no good reason.

Original and multiple copies with social security number and with SSN removed are in the safe. Original copies never go out to anything other than serious applications or verification for things like VA home loans and whatnot. Any stores offering veteran discounts or other similar things requiring verification don't get a copy with my social.

That is true in my case. I am a Vietnam era veteran and in those days your service number was your SS number.

I am not suggesting anyone float their DD214 on the internet or anywhere else, only that it is the defining document to prove service, character of service, awards, etc.

 

[K22]

Along with all overseas service and dates.

Correct.

 

[M-61]

I know an Air Force guy but that's not really military...LOL!

Try being a gunner on an AC-47 (Spooky)
Or ask all those guys you know exactly how they felt when they called for close air support. When you’re being over run and a gun ship appears is why some are around today.
“When you hurt enough to want the very best call Phan Rang……”

 

[ebb]

I used to frequent a gun store that i really liked the old guy that owned the place, one day I was in the shop when a guy showed up to pick up a rifle. He proudly announced he was an ex Navy SEAL and he was picking up and exact copy of the rifle he shot so many people with, in Vietnam. I was very surprised to see he was picking up a Savage heavy barrel 308. the owner Bill looked at me and his eyes got big and he gave me the NO No No don't say anything nod.

 

[Herzo]

The change from service number to SSN was '67 or '68. I was irritated that my discharge paper (Aug 1968) had my SSN on it.

 

[K22]

Any stores offering veteran discounts or other similar things requiring verification don't get a copy with my social.

Agree - for years all I had to do was show my Driver's License which shows I am a veteran to get veteran discounts at Lowe's and Home Depot.

Now they require you to register with some online service. I tried to explain to them that when I was in your SS number was your service number and I am not putting that online. So, they denied me the discount even though I produced my Honorable Discharge Certification along with my Driver's License. I was really pissed and went someone else to buy my refrigerator.

 

[DShortt]

Yeah and the official copy has your social security number on its so not a document you want to let go flying around for no good reason.

Original and multiple copies with social security number and with SSN removed are in the safe. Original copies never go out to anything other than serious applications or verification for things like VA home loans and whatnot. Any stores offering veteran discounts or other similar things requiring verification don't get a copy with my social.

Your DD214 is also verification for certain VA benefits because only veterans with specific medals, ribbons, or certain service dates are eligible for some of the benefits. So it's more than just proof of service alone. Veterans with a DD214 showing things like National Defense medals, Combat Service medals, or Purple Hearts get a few extra services and benefits from the VA

There's a huge difference between allowing it to go 'flying around' and showing it to someone. Photographic memory is rare. Not something I'd be particularly concerned about.

 

[M-61]

Agree - for years all I had to do was show my Driver's License which shows I am a veteran to get veteran discounts at Lowe's and Home Depot.

Now they require you to register with some online service. I tried to explain to them that when I was in your SS number was your service number and I am not putting that online. So, they denied me the discount even though I produced my Honorable Discharge Certification along with my Driver's License. I was really pissed and went someone else to buy my refrigerator.

It’s like applying for veterans exemptions from the town, county, state. They require your letter of benefits that you receive around December of each year. I black out everything I’m disabled for except the percentages. It’s no one’s business.
Additionally I object to the word benefit. It’s not a benefit. It is compensation for what they did to you. They can’t fix it so you are ‘compensated’ financially. That’s all that can do.
Same as ‘travel benefits’. Not a benefit at all. I go 5 times a month minimum and it’s my money to get there. I want and get compensated for what they are responsible for.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Try being a gunner on an AC-47 (Spooky)
Or ask all those guys you know exactly how they felt when they called for close air support. When you’re being over run and a gun ship appears is why some are around today.
“When you hurt enough to want the very best call Phan Rang……”

I know. Obviously a joke.

I served on a Spruance class Destroyer so we were the support Tomahawks, Harpoons, SeaSparrows, Torpedoes, Sub -Hunter Helo, Block 1B CIWS, 10 mile 5" rounds, extended range rocket propelled 5" rounds, and a few other things I probably shouldn't say. Insane amount of firepower aboard those destroyers and that was just an old Spru-can! The new boats are being fitted with some pretty insane weapons systems.

 

[DShortt]

My discharge was 81.
I started working at a VA hospital in 2003 until I retired in 2017. I tried to enroll as a patient to get care at the VA where I was employed but was denied eligibility because I did not have a service connected issue and my income was over the limit for means testing.

I appealed and eventually I was evaluated and found to have a service connected issue and thus obtained eligibility to receive care at my VA where I was employed.

My FIL has been trying to get VA benefits for Agent Orange exposure for decades. The man has obvious service related and exposure problems. If it weren't for his meticulous documentation and photographs he'd probably never get any compensation. It appears he finally will. He just got notified today. I'm not sure if I feel happy for him or if I empathize even more.
Most of his fellow service men are now deceased.

 

[DShortt]

I used to frequent a gun store that i really liked the old guy that owned the place, one day I was in the shop when a guy showed up to pick up a rifle. He proudly announced he was an ex Navy SEAL and he was picking up and exact copy of the rifle he shot so many people with, in Vietnam. I was very surprised to see he was picking up a Savage heavy barrel 308. the owner Bill looed at me and his eyes got big and he gave me the NO No No don't say anything nod.

I'd have asked a whole bunch of questions. I'm not timid when confronted with a liar. They're chickenshits.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

There's a huge difference between allowing it to go 'flying around' and showing it to someone. Photographic memory is rare. Not something I'd be particularly concerned about.

Talking about online and things like that. Thought that was discernable in my post. I've never once in my life had a person ask to see my DD214 to verify my service for their own personal appeasement. Wouldn't show it to them if they did ask because it makes no difference to me